HIGH PAYING ART CAREERS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT

BY JOHNATHAN D. KINDALL

raduating from art school can lead to a number of non-traditional and highpaying careers, with salaries matching or exceeding that of other fields. Below, we’ll take a look at three such careers, each intended to give you a better idea of the many varied paths you can take out of art school.

Not all of these careers may be available to students immediately out of college - specific experience and training may still be needed - but all careers explored can be reached with a specialized 4 year degree from an arts school, with no additional schooling required.

1. VIDEO GAME ARTIST

Video game artists work on different aspects of video games design, from backgrounds to 2D environments to 3D models. Whether through modest pixel art or huge, three-dimensional environments, video game artists help bring digital worlds to life.

The exact responsibilities of a video game artist will vary depending on the size and style of the given project. For example, if a game artist is working for a big-budget, multi-million-dollar video game, they may only work on one aspect - like the textures of vehicles - for the entire project. »

On smaller projects at independent studios however, a single artist may have a much more broad range of responsibilities.

In addition to relevant coursework and experience, skills required for video game artist positions include a proficiency in visual storytelling, a cinematic eye for shading and light, and familiarity with the various software used in video game design. For game artists working on 3D models, a knowledge of anatomy and basic animation principles can also be also important.

According to Zip Recruiter, the national average salary for a videogame designer in the US is $112,513 /year, or about $54/hour.

2. USER INTERFACE (UI) DESIGNER

A User Interface (UI) Designer is someone who helps create the graphical interface that a user interacts with on a website, app, or device. Almost everything you interact with online, from the search bar of the web browser to the app icons on your phone, look the way they do thanks to a UI designer.

Responsibilities of UI designers vary depending on the project, but they often involve closely collaborating with other professionals like Marketing Specialists, UX (User Experience) Designers, and Project Managers. UI Designers also help create style guides, test graphics interfaces across different devices, and work on incremental, back-end changes.

Skills required for UI Designer positions include competency in graphic art and design, as well as basic proficiency for coding. Many universities in this guide offer programs that teach a combination of these skills. Additionally, since responsibilities can vary so much project to project, a demonstrated history of working well in a team and responding well to criticism is vital for these roles.

According to Zip Recuriter, the average annual salary for UI Designer is $106,351/year or about $51 /hour.

3. CONCEPT ARTISTS

Concept artists take the ideas of writers and directors and visualize them through art and design. If you see it in a video game, animated film, or even a live-action movie, there’s a pretty good chance that a concept artist designed it first.

Responsibilities of a concept artist include being able to read and interpret artistic briefs, designing something that animators or other artists can easily work from and with, and visually storyboarding big ideas, plot points, and setpieces.

Skills needed for concept artist positions often overlap with those taught in a traditional art school education, and include proficiency in physical and digital art and the ability to work collaboratively.

According to Zip Recuriter, the average annual salary for a concept artist is $133,415/year, or about $64 /hour.

These three careers are just a few of the many high-paying careers available to a recently graduated art school student. In today’s world, a traditional four-year degree can lead to a wide world of non-traditional jobs. We hope you find the right one for you! •

York University School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD)

Top 100 Performing Arts University in the World

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